Michael A. Ortiz

The current rec board is doing a good job, Wiles said, and Director Mike Ortiz is a "huge asset."

"We had some personnel issues we were trying to work our way through," Moriarty athletic director Michael Ortiz said Friday.
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"He was not forced to resign," Ortiz said."They both resigned of their own free will."Ortiz, because of what he called the "personnel" nature of the situation, wouldn't, for public consumption, elaborate on why the coaches quit.
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"Joe Bailey is going to be the girls basketball coach, with the assistance of Joe Turner and Greg Hebert," Ortiz said.

Michael A. Ortiz bleeds green and white, always has, always will.But after seven years as the athletic director for Moriarty High School, as well as its feeder middle schools, Ortiz will retire at the end of June.The 48-year-old educator, who has been with Moriarty Municipal Schools for 23 years, was in charge of 98 coaching positions as the AD."Before me, some coaches were putting our athletes in black uniforms," said Ortiz, who sets the example by always wearing Kelly green on the job."Now, black is a good color, but our school colors are green and white.Farmington can wear black.St. Pius has some black.""But," he emphasized once again, "our colors are green and white."Ortiz has a passion for his favored hues.He was a center for the Pintos basketball team and did hurdles, the high jump and legs of the 440- and 880-yard relays in track.In track, then in Class 2A, his team took second at state with just five competitors, he said.The basketball team was the district champion."I graduated from here (Moriarty High) in '75," Ortiz said."I was a four-sport athlete: football, baseball, basketball, track."Green and white has defined Ortiz's career.He ran cross country and track for the green- and white-clad teams at Eastern New Mexico University, where he earned his bachelor's degree in physical education in 1980.He also got minors in history and driver's education.Four years ago, he garnered a master's in administration from New Mexico Highlands University.For his first teaching post, Ortiz was the one and only P.E. teacher and coach at tiny House High in southwestern Quay County.The school colors for the Cowboys and Cowgirls just happen to be green and white."There, I taught history, health (from 1980-82)," he said."I was the P.E. department, coached students at the high school, middle school and elementary.And then, I was the driver's ed department."House was a great experience ...Every place I've been has helped me.I took those experiences with me."Karen Couch, the Moriarty Municipal Schools superintendent, said Ortiz will be tough to replace.
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Ortiz is proud of the improvements to Moriarty's athletic facilities during his term.They include the new auxiliary gym and track, the upgraded baseball and softball facilities, the renovated gym lobby and the new football concession facility.The auxiliary gym is nearing completion, he said."I like all the sports," Ortiz said."It's opportunities for the kids.Except for golf and softball, all our teams have made it (to postseason) in the last few years.And softball had its first winning season ever this year."Ortiz did a stint at the middle school.Meanwhile, he took over the Lady Pintos' high school track team in 1982."I was a three- or four-sport coach all the way through '80 to '90," he said."And I taught New Mexico history and U.S. history, world history, civics, geography, economics, physical education, and I taught the weights class."Ortiz and his wife, Priscilla, will continue to live in Moriarty.He describes his spouse as "my high school sweetheart."
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"The job was very demanding, time-wise," Ortiz said."This summer, I'm going to spend some time with my family and catch up on projects at home, work on my garage, maybe do some hunting and fishing.And I still have my driver's ed business."Ortiz expressed an interest in coming back to the school after a year's respite, "but in a different capacity," Couch said.
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"I've always tried to consider all the kids when making decisions," Ortiz said.

Standing next to one of several bulging, foot-high warps coursing over the gym's wooden court on Monday night, Moriarty High athletic director Michael Ortiz said the floor is ruined.

"It seeped underneath," Ortiz said.

Ortiz said he was called to the site shortly after Satterfield first viewed the flooding.He wouldn't speculate on the cost of repair, and said the insurance companies need to work it out.

Satterfield and Ortiz said a coupling in the gym's fire sprinkler system apparently failed.
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Ortiz said he probably will have to arrange for the remaining home games to be played at either Moriarty or Edgewood middle schools.
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Because students and staff were on holiday at the time of the calamity, Ortiz and Ferran said, as of Tuesday, they were still trying to determine when the leak started.

Attending were Dave Butler (lot 71), Larry & Karen Byrd (lots 55&56), Ken & Mary Harrop (lot 24), Don Holliday (lot 70), George Harter (lot 30), Patricia Jeppeson (lot 65), Frank & Alice MacCue (lot 18), Brian & Patty McHenry (lots 26&27), Diana Munsch (lot 58), Ray Munsch (lot 58), Michael Ortiz (lot 59), Kyle & Christi Parshall (lot 45), Bill Powell (lot 62 & Warren Land Company), Harvey Powers (lot 67), John Read (lots 57&44), Bob & Wanda Sorensen (lot 28), and Cindy & Boardie Taylor (lot 23).
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Director Mike Ortiz explained the background for the supplement to the Covenants.
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Mike Ortiz and Ray Munsch, ACC member, explained the proposed Guidelines.
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After much additional discussion, Mike Ortiz moved to remove item 4 from the guidelines and rely on the ACC members to make the good sense judgments needed.
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Mike Ortiz moved to accept the package as presented; George Harter seconded.
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Mike Ortiz moved that the Board decide whether RV use is placed in the covenants or internally through the by-laws.
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Harvey Powers moved; Mike Ortiz seconded.
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MEETING ADJOURNED (Mike Ortiz moved; Frank MacCue seconded) with the reminder of the Association potluck picnic at 5 PM.

But the district now appears to be back on solid financial footing with its new director, Mike Ortiz, and to have a better relationship with the town of Vail and residents.
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Mike Ortiz

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"I'm really excited about where we've come," Ortiz said.
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Zemler and Ortiz both said they'd like to see those agreements improved.
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Ortiz said the relationship between the town and the district is improving.

"There's a lot of dialogue," he said.
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Ortiz said visitors and residents shouldn't notice the transition as they move between the amenities offered by different organizations.

"Our goal should be for the Vail Rec District, the town of Vail and Vail Resorts to provide a seamless experience to residents and guests," he said.
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While Ortiz said he will wait for results of the recreation plan to come back, it is apparent that improvements are needed for recreation facilities, he said.That starts with the aging golf course, he said.

"We definitely need improvements at the golf course," Ortiz said."To me, that's the town's largest summer asset."

Dobson Ice Arena, the Nature Center and the Ford Park fields also could use some improvements, Ortiz said.
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Ortiz said he simply wants the district to be transparent about its finances and goals.

"People need to see you're creating a plan and working toward something in order to have credibility," he said.